MIT scientist: Paralysis cure eyed
By Herald staff
Friday, September 21, 2007
The future of curing traumatic spinal cord injuries could be on the
horizon, and it involves plastics, according to one of MIT's top
biotechnology professors.
Dr. Robert Langer, 59, MIT professor of chemical engineering and the
youngest person ever - at 43 - to be appointed to all three U.S.
National Academies of science, told the Greater Boston Chamber of
Commerce that he and his students began effectively curing rats of
paralysis using a plastic scaffold that would be inserted into their
bodies.
During the speech, Langer demonstrated what could be a future
treatment for humans. He showed a film of the paralyzed rat before it
was treated with a special plastic implant coated with neuronal stem
cells.
The rat could move around but had lost the use of its rear legs.
The film showed the rat weeks later able to walk on all four legs
fairly well.
The plastic scaffold helps reduce scar tissue and may help duplicate
new cells, Langer said.
"Different people have used different models," Langer said. "It's a
question of how much improved function you get."
Langer said his research is being partially funded by InVivo
Therapeutics Corp., a Cambridge life-science company that is raising
funds to treat traumatic spinal cord injuries.
Frank Reynolds, CEO of InVivo, declined to give financial specifics,
but said the company has a consulting staff of 18 people.
Reynolds said Langer's use of plastics, which the MIT professor also
believes could grow new bone, intestine, liver and ureter cells,
would help commercialize the first big breakthrough in treatment of
paralysis.
"We believe it will be the first effective treatment for spinal cord
injury," Reynolds said.
Reynolds said Irish officials will be visiting Boston to discuss $10
million in funding for InVivo from the Irish government.
http://www.bostonhe
articleid=1033115
Read the study:
http://www.invivoth
l_2002.pdf
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StemCells subscribers may also be interested in these sites:
Children's Neurobiological Solutions
http://www.CNSfoundation.org/
Cord Blood Registry
http://www.CordBlood.com/at.cgi?a=150123
The CNS Healing Group
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CNS_Healing
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